Technology – especially social media – has made our communication more accessible over the last ten years. But has it enhanced the quality of our conversation? In this book, Phillips contends that empathy has lost out in the transition to digital technology. She cites events like the 2016 US election as proof of how we are unable to have a civilized conversation in the digital world.
Thus far (in the first couple chapters in the book), I followed Phillips. However, as she went on in the book, she seemingly did not analyze new material deeply enough. She mainly dove deeply into thinking about Virtual Reality (VR) devices. She contends that, if done right, they can make us more empathetic as they allow us to see what it feels like to be in another’s virtual shoes. While not holding a prejudice against VR, I still am skeptical that they serve as a potential panacea for our communication woes.
Through Phillips’ reports, I am encouraged that Silicon Valley, the starting point of so many of our technologies, is aware that empathy is in short supply in our world. However, call me old fashioned, but more technology might not be the solution for our human woes. Perhaps we should simply talk to each other more… face to face. This is what I try to do in my technology job – to have direct conversations as much as possible. Why do we need to try to develop expensive solutions when simple ones suffice?
Here, Phillips lost me. I wish she had more ideas to make our conversation interesting, along traditional lines. VR just doesn’t cut the cheese for me, even if it is virtual cheese. I prefer engaging in real conversation over a cup of coffee or in a faith community. Do we need our public square to be virtual, too, or are we just missing out on the real life that’s going on around us? Must Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram be the only answer for every one of our woes? Phillips needed to tell me more about these questions. Instead, winding out her exploration, she seemed to hide herself behind technology when I needed to see her common humanity.
The Future of Feeling: Building Empathy in a Tech-Obsessed World
by Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips
Copyright (c) 2020
Little A
ISBN13 9781542041843
Page Count: 223
Genre: Journalism; Technology
www.amazon.com